of the provinces, namely Khon Kaen and Udon Thani. Some provinces saw arson attacks against provincial halls and other buildings. In Bangkok, there were arson attacks at the Central World mall and at least two other shopping centres, the Stock Exchange of Thailand and various banks, a TV station, and a cinema, which burned to the ground. The total number of burnt buildings was 35. Two Red Shirts were accused of setting fire at the Central World mall, but were acquitted three years later due to a lack of witnesses. The Appeal Court also ruled the two Red Shirts not guilty. , the total death toll since 14 May was believed to stand at 44. Death of Sergeant Phongchalit Phitayanonthakan Sergeant Phongchalit Phitayanonthakan (จ่าอากาศเอกพงศ์ชลิต พิทยานนทกาญจน์), aged 51, of the Royal Thai Air Force's Ground Security Force Corps was shot and killed by friendly fire at an army checkpoint at 1:20 AM of 17 May. Phongchalit and a Pilot Officer Aphichat Songyong (เรืออากาศตรีอภิชาติ ซ้งย้ง), aged 26, were wearing plainclothes and driving an unmarked Vigo pickup truck to the Sala Daeng Intersection checkpoint at high speed. Army troops at the checkpoint reported being fired upon by the people in the truck. The troops manning the checkpoint fired on the truck causing it to lose control and hit police vehicles parked nearby. The two men were taken to nearby Bangkok Christian Hospital, but Phongchalit was dead on arrival. Aphichat was injured, and later picked up from the hospital by commanders of the RTAF Ground Security Force Corps. The commanders had no comments about the circumstances of Sergeant Phongchalit's death. Phongchalit was one of the two troops killed in the extended 13–19 May military crackdown. Death of Fabio Polenghi Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban claimed that Italian photographer Fabio Polenghi was killed by a grenade launched from a terrorist M79 grenade launcher and died side by side with a soldier. However, numerous reports including one by the International Federation of Journalists noted that Polenghi was shot. Autopsy results showed that Polenghi died from a high-velocity bullet that entered the heart, and caused damage to his lungs and liver. A reporter from Der Spiegel who was with Polenghi noted that he was photographing from the protesters' side and was running from advancing soldiers. The Italian Embassy announced it was pursuing its own investigation. In May 2013, the results of a lengthy investigation in Thailand revealed